The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-09-07
VOL. XXXv1. NO. I3. SOM

guessed that had run away from home
and advised me to return, saying that it
was no country for boys. could scarcely
conceive, as be gave me this advice,
which | knew to be good, that he had
without doubt killed dozen men--per-
haps more. But il was fact.
Hawkins left the boat at Sioux City
and went on 70 Yankton. The next
I five or six weeks | spent in the vicinity
of that place working on various farms.
did not get very high wages, butt man
aged to make my living. After some time
hired out to a man who was driving
some stock up the river TO the Yankton
Indian agency. There were some two or
! three hundred head, and there were sew
eral men along with them. To make
this trip had invested in pony. We
arrived at the agency after several days,
and finding that my services would no
longer be required, started to return on
my pony. was opposite Niobrara, Neb.
and back some four or five miles from
the river. when | met two men on horse
back, each leading string of five or six
horses. Some of the ones which were
being led were wild, and were giving the
men considerable trouble. They hailed
me and after, as thought, asking an un-
, necessary lot of questions concerning
who was, where | came from, and
where was going. one of them said to
me:
I'm sheriff down in Newbrasky, an
my podner here Is dep'ty- We've got
some hosses what WAS stole that were ia
kin back They don't lead very well
and III give you s. to 90 with Us this af-
ternoon and to-morrer and help US
OUT
~All right said. Where are you
going to cross? ?"
Down at Chouteau creek"
/ should think there were far bet
ter"
"That's the best crossin round here
we know this country like book"
saw no information was wanted from
me. so | said no more and went along
with them. | soon saw they were re-
markaoly well acquainted with the coun-
try, and appeared TO rather avoid what
few roads and trails there were than 9TH
erwise. We soon struck Chouteau creek
and started down it, frequently crossing
from one side to the other. | noticed
that the men were both heavily armed,
and appeared rather nervous and in con
siderable Of a hurry. | thought nothing
of this, however, a. nearly everybody
went armed, officers especially, and it
was likely they wanted to make the
crossing that night. and possibly they
feared thlt the thieses might attempt to
recover the stock. We passed through
several groves of large cottonwood trees,
and then turned up the river.
Do YOU mind riding all night?T asked
the sheriff
No, 1 replied
"I'il make il couple o dollars extra.
We want TO cross up here an get cross
the pint of the reservation an over
to Red Bird, on the Niobrara, fore We
stop"
Go ahead I'll stay with YOU
A little later heard the sound ofhoofs
behind Us. This gave me no nneasiness,
but the moment il struck the ears of my
companions they took their Winchesters
from where they were fastened on the
saddle and began to lock back intently.
A moment later dozen horsmen came
around the point Of a bluff at full speed
Several of the party fired at US. My COM
panions returned the shots and dashed
away, leaving the horses they We're lead
ing. | had no doubt that the thieves
from whom they had recovered the hor-
ses We're in pursuit, SO followed as fast as
| could We were in an open place near
the river and headed for some cotton
woods about quarter Of mile distant.
Our horses were on the run and though
when glanced back saw that our pur-
suers were gaining on Us, still We could
easily have reached the timber ahead of
them had not a shot from the party be-
hind hit the deputy sheriff He fell for
ward and struck the ground heavily,
while his horse dashed away. The sher-
If stopped and returned to him. while a
ball whistled 50 uncomfortably close to
my own ears that / concluded 10 do the
same. Our pursuers came up and sur
rounded us. Ii was growing quite dark
by this time. and could not we'll make
out their features, though | thought
they looked more like farmers than horse
thieves. la a moment my suspicious
were confirmed.
Il reckon we've got We this time" said
one of the party, an We bet We'll show
We what this ere vigilance committee
considers good for horse thievesw
The wounded man was taken up and
I placed on horseback, two men were de-
tailed TO guard each one of US and we
started back tried 10 explain my con-
nection with the others hut was sileneed
( by the grutf voice of the leader, who as
sured me that would have chance to
explain things at the trial This relieved
me somewhat, as ! had no doubt that
could easily prove my innocence. We
rode till about midnight, when we came
% small cluster Of houses called Miner
eral Springs. We drew up before long
log house. which proved to be saloon
and h ltel combined The bar-room was
lit up and there were a number OF men
inside aud horses tied outside. They
gave loud cheer when they saw the
| prisoners, aud there was a great deal OF
/ hurried conversation. We were taken
inside and placed under guard. Twenty
or thirty men gathered in the room when
man said
Well. boys, we've brought ELI in, an
I We got the HOSES | reckon we'd better
try the men an fix everything up to-
night. The cheerman viii please come
I for'ard."
I A man elbowed his way through the
/ crowd and took his seat on box behind
a card table Ii was Buck Hawkins |
felt still easier, as | had no doubt
he would recognize me and set me at